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Room Mate Valeria

One of Malaga's coolest hotels. The central location is handy for everything this laidback city has to offer. Guests tend to spend a lot of time up on the roof working on their tans during the day and sipping cocktails late into the night. Rates are pretty reasonable for a ‘design’ hotel too.

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Rooms from

£130per night

Check-in

Check-out

Occupancy

Rooms

Adults

Children

Ages of children

Airport

Location

9/10

The Valeria is on the edge of the increasingly hip Soho neighbourhood and alongside the Plaza de la Marina by the Muelle Uno waterfront development, where cruise ships dock. The Mediterranean and the Calle Marqués de Larios shopping street are a couple of minutes’ walk away. You can easily walk to most sights and there are dozens of bars and restaurants nearby.

The airport bus stops at the corner of the Alameda and Plaza de la Marina, which is about a minute’s walk from the hotel. Or take the train from the airport to the Centro-Alameda stop, about five minutes on foot.

Style & character

8/10

Designers Victoria and Syliva Melián have mainlined on a large-scale pattern of tropical foliage that covers walls and armchairs, in a nod to the lush Paseo del Parque gardens near the hotel. The striking design has a marine feel, with bold blue tones as well as all the green, reminding you that you are right by the sea, right in the south of Europe.

You feel all chic and Mediterranean as soon as you step onto the black-and-white zigzagged floor in the lobby, where you can lounge on squashy tan leather sofas. Or, relax on a wicker chair in the courtyard to the sound of a tinkling tiled fountain.

Service & facilities

7/10

Room Mate hotels are renowned for their friendly staff who manage to be professional and efficient with no trace of smarminess. The big draw at the Valeria is the stylish roof terrace, with views across the city and Mediterranean. There are day beds in turquoise and white stripes to relax on and a small plunge pool to cool off in. There's also a pleasant gym with Salter equipment.

Very useful is the WiMate mobile internet device given to guests so you can stay connected wherever you are with no nasty surprise data charges.

Bar

Fitness centre

Wi-Fi

Rooms

8/10

There are 61 rooms and suites, some with balconies, on four floors. I stayed in 204 at the front of the building, giving onto a pretty square with orange trees and a view of Malaga’s big wheel and the port. Broad royal blue and white stripes went not just up the walls but across the ceiling too. Black furniture, a blue carpet and grey window frames accentuated the bold vibe. Other rooms have green or turqoise stripes.

The bed was great, with rectangular and square pillows with a navy trim and reading lights – and USB as well as regular sockets on the desk alongside. I loved the walk-in shower with blue brick tiles. Standard rooms without views have bathtubs. There were plentiful, good-quality Room Mate own-brand toiletries and a professional hairdryer. All rooms have kettles.

Food & drink

7/10

The hotel’s Kirei by Kabuki restaurant is very popular – book ahead – and has menu of Japanese dishes with a Mediterranean influence, including scallop corn pastry parcels (€12/£11), stir-fried noodles with chicken and prawns (€10/£9) and salmon, ginger and spring onion temaki (€4/£3.50).

Breakfast is available from 7am until noon in a bistro-style room in the basement with turquoise banquettes. There is good orange and other juices, serve-yourself machine coffee, pre-cooked hot food, fruit and a reasonable range of cold options, including gluten-free foods. There's a bar on the roof terrace; a fashionable place to hang out with a cocktail or cold beer.